title: Morbidity in pediatric tonsillectomy.
abstract: Tonsillectomy is one of the most common operations performed in the pediatric age group. Previous literature on morbidity in tonsillectomy has dealt predominantly with postoperative hemorrhage. Children undergoing tonsillectomy were divided in a prospective and random fashion into eight study groups to evaluate postoperative morbidity as it relates to the surgical technique used (electrocautery, dissection, KTP laser), methods of hemostasis (electrocautery, suture ligature), and the use of postoperative antibiotics. A total of 80 children were evaluated. Using the parameters of morbidity as defined in this study, blunt dissection tonsillectomy using suture ligatures for hemostasis, without postoperative antibiotics was found to result in the least morbidity in the pediatric age group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, LSU Medical Center, Shreveport 71130.
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Linden
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Lazar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004433:Earache / Q000209:etiology; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D053685:Laser Therapy; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents